[ahuibers]

The older copy of the US site at https://web.archive.org/web/20180206011840/https://www.42.us... is very clear: "I AM NOT BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 30. CAN I COME TO 42? No. While we do not have anything against those who are over 30 years old, when opening a new location, we have decided to concentrate our where they can be the most efficient and where we have a great deal of experience."

On the current site this is changed to: "You can apply to 42 if you’re older than 45, but please know that most students here are younger and that Intensive Basic Training is tiring."

Hardly encouraging.

The french site http://www.42.fr/ says "ouverte à tous et accessible aux 18-30 ans" (18-30 only)

Draw your own conclusions about age discrimination here. You are free to apply...

[avip]

Have you tried applying to a publicly funded phd program or med school @age > 45?

[BeetleB]

I don't know about PhD, but I know several who went to med school after the age of 40. Lots of weird midlife crises out there.